Microsoft hosting fitness focused events at its retail stores today

Live near a Microsoft retail store? You may want to check it out today, as Microsoft has announced that it will be hosting fitness-focused events to celebrate the launch of the Microsoft Band. If you need more motivation, the software maker has mentioned that it will also be conducting giveaways and raffles. In addition, you can get hands-on with the new fitness tracker.

Destiny's first expansion pack, The Dark Below, launching Dec. 9

Bungie and Activision scored a big sales hit in September with their long awaited sci-fi shooter Destiny and Wednesday they announced that the first of two planned expansion packs for the game, The Dark Below, will be released for the Xbox One and Xbox 360, among other platforms, on December 9 for $19.99.

Microsoft Band: Read the backstory on the evolution and development Microsoft's new smart device

Tonight, Microsoft unveiled their new health and fitness device dubbed Microsoft Band. You can now order it online in the US or pick it up at your local Microsoft Store starting Thursday, October 30 for $199.

How did Microsoft get to this point of entering in the brave new world of smart wearables? More importantly, what is it that they can bring to the table that other companies have not?

Luckily, Microsoft has answers for us. The company has unabashedly shared a massive 3,000-word essay about the Microsoft Band story, including its conception and development.

You can pay for coffee at Starbucks with the Microsoft Band

We're still digesting all the information that has just been shared about the Microsoft Band, but there's one feature that seems really cool. You can pay for stuff at Starbucks using the Microsoft Band. We don't have the Band yet, but this is going to be one of the first things we're going to try out. Want to know how to load your Starbucks Card on your Microsoft Band? Read on for the 5 simple steps.

Microsoft details their new Health platform

Microsoft has just announced their new fitness wearable the Band and a new platform to go along with it. Microsoft Health is a new health and fitness platform from Microsoft that will use the power of the cloud to help you live a healthier life. A new blog post from Microsoft details some of the cool features available on Health.

Microsoft officially announces fitness tracker and health service

Microsoft has just announced the Microsoft Band and Microsoft Health. The Microsoft Band is a fitness tracking wearable that goes on sale tomorrow for $199. You can pick it up on your local Microsoft Store or online at the Microsoft Store website. Microsoft Health is a new cloud-based service that runs the numbers from the data collected by the Microsoft Band.

Here's what we know so far about Microsoft Band

Microsoft has a fitness tracker coming out very soon called the Microsoft Band. We're expecting an official announcement in the near future. We've already seen the official companion apps, called Microsoft Health, in the Windows Phone Store, Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Here's what we've been able to piece together about the Microsoft Band.

Microsoft Health available for Windows Phone to sync your Microsoft Band

We just saw the official Microsoft Band sync app for Mac, which gave us our first look at Microsoft's fitness tracker. Now we're seeing a new Microsoft Health app on Windows Phone, Android and iOS. These apps allow you to personalize your Microsoft Band and offer fitness tracking thanks to the wearable.

Official Microsoft Band app spotted in Mac App Store ahead of announcement

An app called 'Microsoft Band Sync' was just spotted in the Apple Mac App Store and looks to be the companion app for Microsoft's rumored wearable. We're expecting Microsoft to announce some kind of wearable within the coming weeks. Forbes recently reported that the fitness-oriented band would be coming out shortly. And just last week the device appeared to have passed FCC approval.

Watch the replay of our first Halo: the Master Chief Collection Twitch preview

One of the year's biggest exclusive Xbox One games launched this week: Sunset Overdrive. We went all out for it, providing an early review and hosting a multiplayer Twitch stream on launch day. We even have a review of the Sunset Overdrive white Xbox One console coming up on Thursday.

Awesome though Sunset Overdrive is, we still have one major Xbox One exclusive to look forward to in the weeks ahead: Halo: the Master Chief Collection. You can count on Windows Central for plenty of excellent Master Chief Collection coverage, including two Twitch preview events!

Our first Master Chief Collection Twitch stream starts at Twitch.tv/Eastxtwitch tonight at 8pm Central (9pm Eastern/6pm Pacific). Join us for a first glimpse at missions from Halo and Halo 2 running on Xbox One. We're also giving away some great prizes, so this is one stream you won't want to miss!

Update: The Stream is over. Thanks to all the cool people who joined us and congrats to the winners!

Bing Rewards updated on Windows Phone to be a little more native

The official Bing Rewards app for Windows Phone has picked up an update. Bing Rewards provides credits to you every time you do a search through Bing. You can redeem those credits towards cool prizes like Microsoft gift cards, Amazon gift cards, Starbucks gift cards and other prizes. The official app on Windows Phone launched in June and was met with some initial criticism. The Bing Rewards app was just a web wrapper at the time, but today's update changes that.